Other Pamplin Media Group sites

This is one gift that multiplies

It may seem a little late in the game to make a final gift suggestion for 2007. But we would like to offer one gift idea that will cost you, essentially, nothing - and it will multiply itself many times over.

For anyone who already has donated this year to an arts or culture organization, there's a very good chance that you can make a contribution of similar size to the Oregon Cultural Trust by Dec. 31 and receive every dime of that amount back when you file your Oregon income taxes next year.

This unusual opportunity to give and receive a dollar-for-dollar tax credit was made possible by the 2001 Oregon Legislature. The only problem with the program is that too few people are aware of it.

Of the 75,000 Oregon residents who made tax-deductible donations to arts or culture groups last year, only about 10 percent took advantage of the chance to contribute to the state's cultural trust.

Trust has had a large impact

The low participation rate is unfortunate when you consider how important the trust has become to Oregon's cultural scene in a few short years. The trust, which now has an endowment of $7 million, has awarded nearly $5 million in grants to arts and culture organizations in every corner of the state.

And when we talk about arts and culture, we're not necessarily referring to a highbrow night at the opera (not that there's anything wrong with that).

In Portland, for example, the dozens of grants awarded by the trust include allocations to the Oregon Children's Theatre Company, the Friends of Tryon Creek State Park and Oregon Public Broadcasting.

Culture, in other words, is hardly an exclusive concept for the folks administering the trust. They've excelled in their mission of supporting all forms of art and culture.

Similarly, the groups that have aligned themselves with the Oregon Cultural Trust for the purpose of encouraging donations also are of a varied lot.

This diversity is important because there is one prerequisite for receiving a tax credit when donating to the trust: You must already have made a donation of like or greater size to an arts or cultural organization approved by the trust.

But again, it's easy to find a group that qualifies. Among the myriad eligible Portland organizations are the Oregon Zoo Foundation, the Oregon Symphony Association, the Portland Art Museum, the Portland Classical Chinese Garden and the Portland Children's Museum.

Just having a membership to one of these attractions will qualify you for a tax credit if a portion of that membership fee is tax-deductible.

Give, and get your money back

The procedure for donating to the trust may sound complicated, but it's really not. Just go to the Oregon Cultural Trust Web site (www.culturaltrust.org) and look for an organization that you've already donated to, or one you'd like to donate to.

Once you've written a check to the local arts or culture group, send a check - or make an online payment - to the cultural trust.

Individuals can donate up to $500, while couples can contribute up to $1,000. For corporations, the limit is $2,500. And remember, this tax credit is much better than a tax deduction, because with a credit, you get the entire value of your donation back come April 15.

A gift to the Oregon Cultural Trust will reduce your tax burden for the year and also serve to invigorate the arts and culture scene in every community in this state.